Russian Aid was Accepted; Hariri Office Confirms
![](https://admediaryllc.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/9iaxLqhOFdzmZjVI7p7GA8DvLUVwFAgQ-960x640.jpg)
Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported this past Monday that Lebanon had rejected an offer for aid from Russia. The offer in question would see Russia ensuring the provision of millions of bullets for the Lebanese police force. According to Al-Akhbar Hariri’s office had turned down this offer.
The reasons cited for the rejection were along the lines of technical issues (apparently revealed by military sources), and that the decision came down to the sort of weaponry being used and whether it would be compatible with the provided bullets. Politics, it was claimed had no bearing on the matter. This was claimed despite the fact that America (a nation that is openly critical of Russia) is the biggest backer and financial supporter of the Lebanese army; providing them with as much as $1.5 billion since 2006.
However, it has since been revealed by the Hariri office that the aforementioned article was incorrect, with the media office stating that it was “devoid of truth”. As it turns out Lebanon has in fact accepted the offer for Russian aid. The official statement from the Prime Minister’s media office reads as follows:
“The Press Office clarifies that this is not true and that the Russian side was informed of the acceptance to receive the donation, from which the Internal Security Forces in the Ministry of Interior will benefit.”
Despite the fact that political pressure wasn’t identified as a factor, according to Al-Akhbar as well as a senior political source from Lebanon, the biggest deterrent attached to the Russian aid is American disapproval. And the resulting pressure from that was considered too unfavourable to accept the offer.
Russia however, seems fairly committed to improving and expanding its relationship with Lebanon. Examples of this are seen through a published draft military accord of a renewable agreement between the two. It outlines some fairly general goals which include (but are not limited to) battling the threat of terrorism and investing in military training. According to certain reports it also seems that Russia is prepared to provide Lebanon with a $1 billion line of credit for the sake of any military related purchases.
Sources have revealed that the Russo-Lebanese military relationship is going strong and has been since 2017, the year in which a deal was signed with Moscow to purchase 104 military transport vehicles. Apparently, Lebanese officers still receive training from Russia.
The tensions between the United States and Russia are well documented. The most recent examples stem from the Crimea Annexation in 2014, Russia’s support of the Assad regime in Syria, along with reports that there was Russian involvement in the previous American election. The United States have generally used sanctions to apply pressure on Russia on the global scale. This tactic was taken an additional step further through a law introduced in 2017, which essentially allows the United States to impose sanctions on any countries that tie themselves too closely to Russia. More specifically, it’s meant to target any nation that makes ‘significant transaction’ with the latter’s army.